Rocky Point Students Honored For Creating Hand For Indonesian Boy

ROCKY POINT, NY — A group of Rocky Point High School technology class students, who created a prosthetic hand for a six-year-old Indonesian boy born with no fingers on his right hand, were honored March 3 by Brookhaven Town officials.

Last Fall, six technology education students created a 3D prosthetic hand for Anan Suastika as an answer to a plea from his father to help with him with his disability. Their teacher John Schumacher said he had seen a post from Suastika's father, I gede Suastika, in an online forum called e-Nable that called for volunteers and he told them, "'Guys, amongst difficulty lies opportunity. This is an opportunity. Let's make a difference for somebody,'" News 12 reported back in December.

The students, Thomas Anzalone, Brendon Artzt, Jacob Bazata, Gianna Imeidopf, James Prendergast and junior Gavin Donovan, worked with Schumacher on the project and joined in a videoconference with Anan and his father after the finshed product was delivered.

In the video conference, Suastika's father said that before his son received the hand he was ashamed and would hide his arm behind his back.

The prosethetic hand ended up being a gift that changed Suastika's life forever.

Councilwoman Jane Bonner noted it is "not every day that high school students can make such a big impact on a person’s life."

"I thank Mr. Schumacher and his technology class for taking on the challenge to improve Anan’s quality-of-life,” she added.

Rocky Point School District Superintendent of Schools Scott O’Brien expressed gratitude to Schumacher and the students because the project will have "a profound effect" on Anan’s life.

“The enthusiasm and passion shown by this committed group is inspiring to others in our school district, learning that in our classrooms, they too can make a difference in the global community,” he said.